East Meets East [Import]

Track Listings

1. Ajde Jano

2. Lullaby For Kamila

3. T 4.2.

4. Eden

5. Dafino

6. Jovano Jovanke

7. Ederlezi

8. Kazimierz

9. One Voice

10. Tribute To Maria Tanase

11. Time 4 Time

12. Vino

13. Lost In Time

14. Kukush

Tracks:

West Meets East: Prabhali
West Meets East: Swara Kakali
West Meets East: Raga Piloo
West Meets East: Dhun
West Meets East: Raga Ananda Bhairava
West Meets East: Tenderness
West Meets East: Twilight Mood

Amazon.com

Without renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the West may not have found Indian classical music until decades later, much beyond the late 1960s. Thanks to Menuhin's chance meeting and later lasting friendship with the master sitarist Ravi Shankar, the West witnessed the sublimity that the merging of Western and Indian classical music could produce. The two collaborated in key performances during the late 1960s and mid-1970s, the highlights of which are captured here on West Meets East. In an incredible, interwoven dance between violin and sitar, Shankar and Menuhin spin a new yarn from the wool of ancient and rare Indian ragas, capturing the ecstasy of Hindustani praise while spontaneously bringing forth their own voices in the music. Menuhin's violin sings in beautiful sadness alongside Shankar's twanging sitar amid the droning of tanpura and occasional tabla rhythms. It's as if the two greats are playing a game of tag, taking the other's notes and stretching them into their own inspired shapes while creating a timeless music where love and respect swirl up like blessed smoke. --Karen H. Hugg

Customer Reviews:

Such catholic taste..........2007-04-28

I was into the Yehudi Menuhin-Ravi Shankar collaborations back when I first purchased the "West Meets East" albums twenty five years ago. This CD features all thier sessions. Sir Yehudi, the "classical" American violinist; and Ravi Shankar, the Indian sitar virtuoso touch the soul of India in the passion that is captures in these recordings.

Sir Yehudi also collaborated with jazz violinist Steff Grappelli; and Ravi Shankar with Jean-Pierre Rampal, Andre Previn and jazz drummer Buddy Rich. Shankar taught the sitar to George Harisson of "The Beatles". Who could doubt two men of such catholic taste?

Better than metal.......2006-11-10

this is a great pairing of two masters the pace tempo and speed beat metal

Two musical instruments made for each other.......2006-08-02

The Ravi Shankar Collection: West Meets East, The Historic Shankar/Menuhin Sessions comprises seven invigorating ragas in which violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Sitarist Ravi Shankar masterfully blend the distinct sounds of the violin and the sitar, creating what can only be described as an exotic auditory repast. Accompanying some of the melodic compositions are the tanpura and the tabla. I enjoyed six of the ragas very much, but track five, entitled "Raga Ananda Bhairava," left me wanting for something else, I am sad to say; and track five is the longest playing of the compositions, lasting fifteen minutes and forty-one seconds. My dog was even begging me to do something about the music, which I did: I skipped to track six, which was no sacrifice on my part, as the sixth composition is by far my favorite on the CD, so poignant and lovely. I was only too happy to accommodate my discriminating pooch.

If you enjoy the sitar, and the violin, this CD will not disappoint.

A meeting of musical geniuses........2005-11-17

Menuhin is the master of the violin arguably the greatest violinist of the 20th century (from what I understand). Since I don't really care for western classical music I wouldn't have been exposed to his virtuosity if it weren't for this collaboration. Menuhin he plays music which is rooted in the Indian classical tradition (except portions of a couple of tracks which have a western sound to it) without sounding uncomfortable or making the music awkward. He violin has a decidedly western sound yet it blends in seamlessly into the Indian classical music.

Aside: The violin has been adopted almost "as is" into South Indian Karnatak music (as opposed to the Hindustani system which Shankar is from). Apart from some(?) structural changes which have been incorporated into it, what makes the Indian (read: Karnatak) violin sound so different is the radical tuning and specially devised fingering techniques to enable the musicians render Karnatak music with its emphasis on gamaks, meends and the ability to play microtones.

Menuhin gets the lion share of airtime while Shankar (the composer) is the perfect host letting Menuhin explore Hindustani Music. Menhuhin lets his virtuosity shine through especially on the standout track Swara Kakali. Having said that Menuhin's playing is soulful without sacrificing emotion for virtuosity. Ravi Shankar on his part adds deft touches to the overall music by stepping in with perfect timing, elevating the music to greater heights. Note, this CD is highly improvised so it speaks volumes for both musicians sense of melody and timing.

Ravi Shankar isn't the greatest sitarist of the past century although is one its most famous proponents and poster boy of Indian music in the West. The honor of the greatest sitarist in the 20th century might well go to either Vilayat Khan or Nikhil Banerjee. However, Ravi Shankar's brilliant musical mind is attested to by this recording as is his ability to compose some profound and complex music.

Swara Kakali and Piloo are the standout tracks. The former is a composition based on an Indian raga (don't know which). The latter is a beautiful rendering of Raga Piloo. Menuhin again is amazingly fast, melodic and soulful. I get goose flesh each time I hear the concluding portion of Swara Kakali. Prabhati is an excellent pathos laden track and Menuhin's violin sings with emotion. Ananda Bhairavi is entirely Ravi Shankar and it is probably the hardest composition to appreciate. It is a richly complex Raga and Ravi Shankar employs his kharaj (bass) strings to good use creating a powerful statement. It is a slow and rich in nuance; appreciating its beauty requires some knowledge of Indian Classical music.

Tenderness and Twilight Mood both have split personalities. They alternately have a Western and Indian sound to it. They are far from the best compositions but do not suffer unduly from "heavy" fusion work which Shankar has unsuccessfully attempted by introducing orchestration and harmony into Indian classical ragas in the other West Meets East CD's. However no such misadventures are attempted here.

This CD lives up to its name. Menuhin is the honored guest and he does justice to the venerable Hindustani tradition. It helps that both musicians have ample respect for each other's ability and heritage. There is no musical duelling whatsoever which at first thought might seem like a lot of fun, but often the music gets lost in blatant showmanship. This CD does not flow smoothly as there is no common uniting theme for the different compositions and therefore I have never listened to the CD start to finish.

Highly recommended!

Like Discovering a New Planet in the Musical Solar System.......2004-12-16

I heard this music as a teenager, when it first appeared in the 60s, and it was my entry into Indian and other Far Eastern musics. Only recently, I bought it again in CD format, and began to reminisce. Now it sounds very different to me. Forty years ago, it was the sound of the sitar that captured my mind and heart. I had grown up listening to and playing (on the cello) classical music, and then heard Duke Ellington and Charlie Mingus and turned to jazz. Indian music was a mind-blower! Now I hear Yehudi Menuhin in a different light: the tremendous emotional depth and courage, the bittersweet Jewish pathos and mysticism, the intense psychic electricity that he brings to the duet. And I hear (or at least I imagine hearing) Pandit Ravi Shankar responding with equally intense interest in what Menuhin is saying, with equal musical respect. The result should NOT be judged in terms of Western classical music or Indian classical music (as the late master sitarist Nikhil Banerjee mistakenly did). It is something new -- a meeting of worlds, a meeting of minds, and as such it transcends the traditions these two consummate masters represent.

Average customer rating:

Superb
Wonderful!
Can't stop listening
Eden for ears and dancing feet
Absolutely mesmerizing!

East Meets East

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00009KPH0
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Tracks:

Ajde Jano
Lullaby For Kamilla
T 4.2
Eden
Dafino
Jovano Jovanke
Ederlezi
Kazimierz
One Voice
Tribute To Maria Tanase
Time 4 Time
Vino
Lost In Time
Kukush

Customer Reviews:

Superb.......2007-06-20

I have owned this CD for some years and it is possibly my most favourite of favourites. Something has happened to one of the tracks so I am buying another copy. I can't bear to have it incomplete. This CD speaks to my soul with every piece. When you think you have heard the best of the CD the next just grabs your heart. The combination of Nigel Kennedy and the Kroke Band is absolutely superb. I can listen to them for hours on end. If you are a Nigel Kennedy fan this one is a must. No, a need.

Wonderful!.......2007-01-26

This record demands a number of listenings. I am not a huge classical violin fan (I admit I cannot even remember why I purchased this disk) and this CD sat on my shelf for years. Once in a while, I'd listen to Ajde Jano, which I liked quite a bit and that was it (BTW, not only is this disk a departure for Kennedy, but Atlas shines on this track in a way lacking in her solo work). But over time, I have come to have such a tremendous respect for this disk--once I listened to it enough to really get into the spirit of it. It is incredible!

(2) That said, this is not really a classical violin disk, per se. Kennedy complements Kroke, but does not impose himself at all--what great modesty and restraint for a player of Kennedy's renown! Bottom like, this is an awesome E. European folk disk accompanied by some of the most inspired and flawless violen playing that I have (in my admittedly limited experience) ever heard.

This is just a wonderful, fun and eclectic disk that has much to offer music lovers of a number of different persuasions. (I must admit that Ajde Jano is still my favorite track.)

Can't stop listening.......2004-02-04

I am a big lover of classical music and somehow I got my hands around this music. I can only agree a hundred percent with the other listeners that this music is crowling deep inside your soul, makes you want to smile, and to cry at the same time. You will not forget it! It is beautiful and relaxing in some parts, others simply take away your breath and you feel (finally) something about your own passion (again) with this music. Yes, you can imagine people dancing and you can feel the fire of love and dance, intertwined with an endless feeling of happiness.

I have been to Krakow and with this music in the back of my mind I am looking forward to going back again and to hopefully find folk bands which are similar to this astonishing master piece performed by Nigel Kennedy.

Enjoy!
Uwe

Eden for ears and dancing feet.......2003-08-18

East meet Easts is a 14 pieces filled album that is overwhelming about 65 minutes at all.
Eastern Folkmusic meets an incredible strings section and sometimes vocals that I like and that I don't (!!!!) like.
Kroke, the incredible Trio from Krakow, Poland is working together with Kennedy in the whole Eeast European music history and they give their chosen music a modern touch with sometimes jazzy influences I like and a really cool picked in e-violin. The album is almost very danceable and that is quite lovely. I like those tunes.
1.) Ajde Jano ... is the first track it has a really danceable lovely rhythm. I remember that tune cuz I heard it as opening track at Krokes solo tour this year in February in Germany. I absolutely don't know the vocals. I dunno why. I think after listening to it for even more times I will got to love it. I see small kids dancing at bloomy fields when I am listening to that tunes.
2.) Lullaby for Kamila ... is a melancholy tune. I really love it. I love all tragical melancholy sounds. They make me smile and the simple *mmmh mmmmmh* backup vocals are breathtaking for me.
3.) T 4.2 (hint:Tea for two) is just cool ... I heard it for the first time at the Berlin Museumsinsel Gig last year in Berlin. ... And well I was dancing on my chair ... ... (the rough mix of that piece is at "Ten pieces to save the world" without Kennedys e-violin ---> he goes crazy ... *yummy*)
4.) Eden ... is a track that is on "Ten Pieces to save the world" by Kroke as well without Kennedys e-violin and that was my favourite one of their album. It is a good way straight to Eden. That is honey for ears ( ... with feet ) FOLKY ROCK'N'ROLL, Yeah!)
5.) Dafino ... mmmmh ... that is "stolen" at one Slawish wedding party ... maybe ... ... It sounds really lovely ... I see the happy people taking each other by their hands ...
6.) Jovano Jovanke ... that is music for taking a trip on a long lonesome bad road with a even more bad car and someone in the back is telling you stories of the region where you are right now. It can be that you are on the road with horses as well but it is definitely a traditional Roadmovie soundtrack ... ... or it is the last song at one very long party ... you know when the sun is almost coming again in the morning. Everyone seems to be tired but none will stop. Just lovely. And when the sun is up. The band at the party will find new energy and kicks all their energy in the last tunes.
7.) Ederlezi ... that is originally by Goran Bregovic ... I love this interpretation ...
8.) Kasimierz ... He is Jewish and he is telling us a story ... it isn't a sad story ... it is one with happy end ... it is maybe a story about a love ... .. who cares. It is lovely.
9.) One voice ... someone is telling a sad story ... definitely ... it is without happy end. That was my first impression. That's it. I love Kennedys violinpart.
10.) Tribute to Maria Tanase ... was a Romanian singer ... she was known as East European Edith Piaf. I got some tunes of her at one Vinyl LP. She is incredible.
... well and she is dead and these tunes are for her. A better tribute cannot exist.
11.) Time 4 Time ... that is a joke with time ... and with rhythm and with folky tunes. I really love it.
12.) Vino ... means Wine ... so it is clear it can be just a drunken song ... ... it shows me how my brain looks like in delirium. ... everything isn't that clear I want to see.
13.) Lost in Time ... is just and simply wonderful.
14.) Kukush ... is my favourite track ... that is Hardcore Party. I love those tracks I love those music. I know such similar tracks from my trips I have done already to Romania. And I want to dance of course. It is my favourite, definitely before Eden!

Absolutely mesmerizing!.......2003-08-13

As someone who was born into an ethnically diverse family and spent the first part of her life in the former Yugoslavia, it was mesmerizing for me to listen to this CD. I have heard melodies like "Ajde Jano," "Dafino," "Jovano, Jovanke," and "Ederlezi," throughout my childhood and hearing them again brings back so much emotion and so many memories. This is wonderful music and I never tire of hearing it performed in new arrangements and by new performers. Enjoy!

Hip Hop East Meets West: Da Undaground Sound Volume 3

Average customer rating:

Hip Hop East Meets West: Da Undaground Sound Volume 3
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Priority Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000003AKT
Release Date: 1997-04-01

Tracks:

Supa Star (1994 Demo Version) - Group Home
Get Lifted - Keith Murray
Realms Of Junior M.A.F.I.A. - Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Fat Cats, Bigga Fish - The Coup
Proceed Ill - The Roots
Lil Ass Gee - Ice Cube
The One - WC And The Maad Circle
Take A Look Around - The B.U.M.S
The Nod Factor - Mad Skillz
Labels - Genius
Soul On Ice (Remix) - Ras Kass
Trife Life - Mobb Deep
Shot Callin' & Big Ballin' - The Whoridas
Glamour And Glitz - A Tribe Called Quest

Average customer rating:

Interesting collaboration, but volume 1 is better.

West Meets East, Vol. 2
Ravi Shankar , and Yehudi Menuhin
Manufacturer: Bgo - Beat Goes on
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music

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West Meets East: The Historic Shankar/Menuhin Sessions
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Passages
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ASIN: B00006L5CH
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

Raga Piloo - Kamala Chakravarti, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Alla Rakha, Ravi Shankar
Raga Ananda Bhairava - Nodu C. Mullick, Alla Rakha, Ravi Shankar
Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano: 1st Movement: Allegro Appassionato
Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano: 2nd Movement: Adagio
Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano: 3rd Movement: Allegro

Album Description

2002 release featuring the virtuoso violin playing of Yehudi Menuhin together with the innovative musicianship of Ravi Shankar - the man George Harrison described as the Godfather of World Music. BGO.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting collaboration, but volume 1 is better........2003-02-11

This is the second collaboration between master musicians Ravi Shankar and the late Yehudi Menhuin. The first piece is an interesting interplay of violin and sitar. Then, the second piece is a Ravi Shankar solo with tabla and tamboura. The first movement of the Yehudi Menhuin contribution is a little "free form", i.e., not the standard classical piece and takes more getting used to (for me) than the sitar pieces (as I'm more familiar with Mr. Shankar's work and own several cds). The sitar is (as it says in the notes) hard for some Western listeners to adapt to (as the rhythms, etc., are different from Western music). As I said in the title, not bad, but volume 1 is better. The second and third movements are better as the piece settles down a bit, from the cacophonous beginning of the first movement, to a more "standard" classical work. Somewhat worthy of the price for the early pieces.

The Champions - The North Meets The South

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The Champions - The North Meets The South
DJ Kayslay & DJ Greg Street
Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0007TV62K
Release Date: 2006-08-22

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INTRO FEAT. DJ KAY SLAY & DJ GREG STREET
GO OFF FEAT. BUSTA RHYMES
THE HARDEST OUT FEAT. PAPOOSE, REMY MA & HELL RELL
POP THE TRUNK FEAT. YUNG JOC, PAPOOSE & CHAMILLIONIARE
DRAMA GANG FEAT. CAM'RON, JUELZ SANTANA & JIM JONES
LIVE FROM THE BLOCK FEAT. MIKE JONES, PAPOOSE * PAUL WALL
HOOD DRUG WARZ FEAT. THREE 6 MAFIA & BG
INTERLUDE FEAT. SHAQ DIESEL
CAN'T STOP THE REIGN 2003 FEAT. BUN B , PAPOOSE & SAHQ DIESEL
ONE AND ONLY (MY BOO) FEAT. REMY MA & RAZAH
THE RUSH FEAT. LLOYD BANKS
IN THE GHETTO FEAT. FAT JOE, JIM JONES, SHAQ DIESEL, CASSIDY & SHEEK LOUCH
STREETN****Z FEAT. JAE MILLZ, SMITTY & MIKE BECK
5 DEADLY VENOMS FEAT. GHOSTFACE, KOOL G RAP, RAEKWON, LORD TARIQ & BIG DADDY KANE
INTERLUDE FEAT. BUFFY THE BODY
INTRODUCTION FEAT. VEIN
BIG PROBLEMS FEAT. LIL JON, LIL FLIP, LIL SCRAPPY, LIL WYTE
KNOCK EM OUT FEAT. TWISTA & SPEEDKNOT MOBSTAZ
CODE OF THE STREETS FEAT. MAINO, UNCLE MURDA, PRINZ, LAKEY THE KID & PISTOL PETE
7 DAYS A WEEK FEAT. ATLAS & C-NOTE
CAN'T STOP THE REIGN - REMIX FEAT. BUSTA RHYMES, SHAQ DIESEL, PAPOOSE & REMY MA

Average customer rating:

Something about it...

Zen Peace
Aeoliah
Manufacturer: Oreade Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

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The Tao Of Zen
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Zen Peace
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Customer Reviews:

Something about it..........2005-09-27

There's something about Aeoliah (and this CD in particular) that I find particularly relaxing, soothing, even euphoric. I have a rather large collection of "new age" music, and it's rare that any of it affects me the way this music does. When I put on the headphones and listen, I find myself not so much listening to the music as absorbing it. Soon, I'm in a sort of twilight state where the concerns of the world are left behind completely. I can't emphasize enough how rare it is that music affects me this way -- it need not be listened to "actively" the way a lot of music requires in order to enjoy it. I do recommend headphones for this music -- just put them on, and (although best listened to while relaxing in bed or on a comfortable chair/couch with no distractions) there's no need to concentrate on the music. Just relax and allow Zen Peace to carry you away.

My highest recommendation -- 5 stars.

Average customer rating:

Listen to the Tzigane

East Meets West

Manufacturer: Warner Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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West Meets East: The Historic Shankar Menuhin Collection

ASIN: B00028X2AU
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

Aochar (Introduction)
Gat in Teentala [Rhythmic Cycle of 16 Beats]
Tzigane-Rapsodie de Concert for Violin and Luth [Original Version]
Paoruno
Nana
Asturiana
Canci
Jota
Polo
Romanian Folk Dances: Stick Dance
Romanian Folk Dances: Sash Dance
Romanian Folk Dances: In One Spot
Romanian Folk Dances: Horn Dance
Romanian Folk Dances: Romanian Polka
Romanian Folk Dances: Fast Dance
Sonata 1955 for Violin and Piano: I
Sonata 1955 for Violin and Piano: Andante
Aochar (Introduction)
Gat in Teentala [Rhythmic Cycle of 16 Beats]

Amazon.com

Daniel Hope is an excellent violinist, very much in tune with today's tastes and fashions, as reflected in his remarkably swift rise to prominence. His technical mastery lets him exploit all the resources of his instrument; his adventurousness leads him to explore the music of many lands. However, the multifarious colors of his tonal palette threaten to overwhelm the music and become an end in themselves; to prove his stylistic versatility, he resorts to excess and exaggeration. Yet on this recording, which features works influenced by folk-music and inviting an improvisatory approach, his playing is strangely unspontaneous, planned, and unimaginative. The program is flanked by two ragas by Ravi Shankar, accompanied by Indian instruments, carefully reconstructed from recordings of Yehudi Menuhin, for whom they were written and with whom Hope was closely associated. They sound beautiful and thoroughly authentic. Recorded here for the first time is a recently discovered sonata by Schnittke, written when he was 20 and studying at the Moscow Conservatory. Tonal, harmonically and structurally conventional but not really derivative, it is full of strong contrasts and abrupt shifts of dynamics, mood and character, which the players bring out very convincingly. For the rest of the program, Hope's fine pianist plays a luthéal, described as an attachment to the piano capable of producing exotic sounds resembling harmonics, lute, cymbalon, harp and flute; it is claimed that Ravel originally wrote the accompaniment to his Tzigane for it. Indeed, on this recording it recreates the orchestral colors much better than the piano. Unfortunately, Hope attacks his part with unbridled ferocity rather than gypsy abandon. Bartók's Romanian Dances are equally excessive: either slow and sentimental or rough and scratchy, and de Falla's Suite populair espagnole lacks grace and charm. Hope recently joined the Beaux Arts Trio, becoming its youngest member ever; his first recording with the group, of works by Mendelssohn and Dvorak, has just been released. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Listen to the Tzigane.......2006-08-03

When I was writing an essay about "Tzigane" in my blog, I met this CD. This is the first time I ever heard the original version of Tzigane. I bought it immediately.

Although this is a violinist Daniel Hope's album, the main character here seems to be luthéal, a piano-like instrument that sounds reminds you, if you are a lover of gypsy music, a cimbalom. He plays Fella and Bartók also with the instrument.
"Tzigane" by Ravel has been my favorite piece, my most favorite piece of Ravel. And after listening the Hope's playing, I found that the piece is definitely written to accompany with the luethéal, neither a piano nor an orchestra I always felt the later part of "Tzigane", after accompanying with the piano, that sounds are not like I expected. But here I listened to the original version, that made a sense at all.

Other thing that surprise me is a suite by Falla. I never got interested in Falla pieces but "Suite populaire espagnole" attracted me. Especially the second piece "Nana", I thought it is written by a contemporary composer.

Romanian Folk Dances by Bartók here was not surprise but a fine performance. Hope plays them as if he is a gypsy violinist not a classic concert violinist. In my impression, Bart&243k's pieces were not as effective by using luthéal as Ravel and Falla.

He plays also a violin sonata of Shunittke, strangely the sonata sounds the closest to Classical Music in the album. I don't get well why he puts the sonata in the album. It could be a British joke? Famous contemporary composer's piece sounds more classical than several decades ago pieces, the sonata was written in 1955 though.

The album starts and ends with Shankar, Famous Indian sitar player and composer, who wrote some pieces for Menuhin, Hope's teacher, it would be rather his predecessor than just a teacher. Hope dedicates the album to Rave Shankar.

I think Hope has a good sense of ensemble, he is not a so-called star player, not like "listen-to-MY-playing!!, me, me, me!!" And he wrote commentary about the composers by himself that is not usual, at least I saw the commentary by the player of the album the first time. When I visited in London I was impressed by great organized information in museums. The commentaries are somehow different from ordinary classic music albums and I saw there are deep understanding and admiration to history of music and composers who dedicated their lives to music.

One disappointment of the album is the title, "East Meets West". As I am an Asian and live in a far east country, Japan I imagine East means Asia. He picks Indian music but most of pieces were created by European, two of them, Ravel and Falla, are even from Western Europe. So in my sense, is this East?? Probably East means here rather Roma, Gypsy, or Tzigane who are supposed to originally come from India, than east area.

Anyway I wish Mr. Daniel Hope considers to make a album "Far East Meets West" someday. I tell you, Mr. Daniel Hope, there are many great composers in Asia too.

Average customer rating:

Meets Oscar Peterson
Benny Carter with Oscar Peterson
Manufacturer: Pablo
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000XKD
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Just Friends
Sweet Lorraine
Baubles, Bangles and Beads
It's a Wonderful World
If I Had You
Whispering
Some Kind of Blues

Blues Harp Meltdown, Vol. 2: East Meets West Live at Moe's Alley

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Blues Harp Meltdown, Vol. 2: East Meets West Live at Moe's Alley
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Mountain Top Prod
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00068NW10
Release Date: 2004-10-12

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You Can't Hurt Me No More - Gary Smith
Story Telling Woman - Gary Smith
It Ain't Right - Gary Smith
Intro - Frank Goldwasser
All These Blues - Frank Goldwasser
Intro - Mark Hummel
Seven Nights To Rock - Mark Hummel
I'm Gone - Mark Hummel
Love Shock - Mark Hummel
Nothing But The Devil - Paul & Annie

Tracks:

Intro - Paul & Annie
Even Good Women Have Bad Days - Paul & Annie
Little Dog - Paul & Annie
Annie's Rocker - Paul & Annie
Intro - Johnny Dyer
Everything Gonna Be All Right - Johnny Dyer
Mojo Boogie - Johnny Dyer
Long Distance Call - Johnny Dyer
Blow Wind - Johnny Dyer
Intro - Gary Primich
Real Gone Lover - Gary Primich
Can't Stand You When You're Drinking - Gary Primich
Playgirl - Gary Primich
Primich Song Intro - Gary Primich
Ain't She Trouble - Gary Primich
Goodbye Intro - Gary Primich
Goodbye Little Girl - Gary Primich

West Meets East: The Historic Shankar/Menuhin Sessions

Average customer rating:

West meets East... and the result is somewhat frustrating
Too weird, too fractured
Don't Forget Enescu
East Meets West
Two stars shine

West Meets East: The Historic Shankar/Menuhin Sessions

Manufacturer: Bgo - Beat Goes on
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

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General | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music
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West Meets East, Vol. 2
West Meets East: The Historic Shankar Menuhin Collection

ASIN: B00000JHC9
Release Date: 1999-07-14

Tracks:

Prabhati - Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Alla Rakha
Raga: Puriya Kalyan - Ravi Shankar
Swara-Kakali - Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Ravi Shankar
Sonata No. 3 in a Minor, Op. 25: 1st Movement-Moderato Malinconico/2nd - Hephzibah Menuhin, Sir Yehudi Menuhin

Customer Reviews:

West meets East... and the result is somewhat frustrating.......2007-06-10

Ah! The glorious Sixties, the Age of Gold. The Beatles had long hair and beards, they wore colorful shirts and bell-bottom pants, crossed Abbey Road bare-footed, sang Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and even had their own private Indian Guru ; yes, West met East, and Yehudi Menuhin met Ravi Shankar.

This is the reissue of a historical recording, made in 1966 and crowning, as the liner notes recall, a friendship established as early as 1952. The title is appropriate: it is more a case of the Western instrument and player trying to blend into an alien tradition, than the reverse. Wouldn't it have been nice (and not out of place) to have tried an arrangement of Enesco's Sonata with Sitar accompaniment! But note that Menuhin is absent from the second piece, "Puriya Kalyan", played by Sitar alone, and Shankar doesn't appear in the first piece, "Prabhati", played by Menuhin and All Rakha on tabla (percussion). So the two musicians are featured together only in the third piece, "Swara-Kakali", which I find more successful than the first in its blending of Western violin and Indian music, thanks to the more subtle, Enesco-like violin effects used in it: harmonics and glissandos on high notes, hushed tremolos scales to the upward reaches, etc.

As recorded, Menuhin's violin sounds a bit dry and wiry, but that less than appealing feature of his playing is most of the times masked by Shankar's Sitar. Still, for those liking that kind of music, the three pieces are disappointingly short (deceptively, no timings are given on the disc's cover: they clock at 4:08 / 11:44 / 8:46). One expects improvisations in Indian Music to last hours - Morton Feldman more than Anton Webern. Ultimately the encounter wets one's appetite but then frustrates rather than satiates it.

Enescu (or Enesco as he is know in France, his second homeland) of course had no long hair and beard, did not cross Abbey Road bare-footed and, while I can give no assurance as to how many flower-printed shirts he owned throughout his life, I am ready to stake my hand that he never wore bell-bottom pants. Yet in his 3rd Violin and Piano Sonata - possibly his towering masterpiece, along with the later "Impressions d'Enfance" also for Violin and Piano, and equal to anything that was written for these two instruments in the first half of the 20th Century - he invented a uniquely personal sound-world, inspired by Rumanian Gipsy music, rhapsodic and whimsical, and displaying a wide array technical effects used for their unique coloring and expressive possibilities: trills, mordents, acciaccaturas (also in the piano writing, lending it a unique, "aquatic" quality), upward portamentos, quarter tones, harmonics, non vibrato playing, sul ponticello (on the bridge), striking with the tip of the bow.

Any recording of Enescu by Menuhin will be of special interest and value, as the latter was a pupil of the Rumanian all-out musician (Enescu was equally proficient as violinist, pianist and composer). In their second recording of the piece (the first, from 1936, can be found on Menuhin Plays Enescu, Szymanowski, Prokofiev, Ravel), Menuhin and his sister Hepzibah turn out an animated and impassioned reading, very close in spirit to their first, alive to the Sonata's whimsical and playful dance-like moments, but with no loss in the more brooding and lamenting moods. But Menuhin elicits no particular beauty of tone from his instrument, and is further unaided by a very close recording pickup. As a result the second movement's non vibrato harmonics are particularly wearing on the ear and loose some of the mesmerizing, other-worldly quality they should have. I suppose the fiddler can easily loose count of the piano's ostinato quintuplets that open that same movement (a reminiscence of the "toaca", the wooden sticks that monks drum at dawn in some Rumanian monasteries), as Menuhin, like André Gertler before him (Milhaud & Enescu: Concerto for Violin /Sonata for Violin Import), adds a beat here and looses one there (but you won't notice it without a score). The close recording also gives at times an overbearing presence to the piano, with mezzo-fortes sounding like fortes, though Hepzibah is capable of playing with much subtlety, as at the beginning of the second movement. The two partners hurl in the finale with even more enthusiasm than they did 30 years before, but Menuhin's bowing technique is also strained beyond (the listener's) comfort in the Bartok-like, Rumanian romping folk-dance, although the violin's coarse tone and the piano's muscular pounding are more in situation there. But the truth is, despite Menuhin's possible claim to hold a special legitimacy in this piece due to his strong relation with the composer, there are more subtle, refined, probing and ultimately convincing versions - starting with the Menuhins' earlier one if you are ready to put up with the 1936, 78rmp sound, and continuing with the one Isaac Stern recorded a year after this one, very similar in approach but more expressive and with infinitely superior tone (collected in vol. 27 of the Sony Stern complete collection, Franck, Debussy, Enesco: Violin Sonatas).

The disc is the straight reissue of the LP - and with 49' it is far too short for a CD, and the Enesco has only one cue point, making it very inconvenient to go to its second and third movements.

Too weird, too fractured.......2007-01-13

This CD has an admixture of Yehudi and Ravi. There are long passages of of only one of them playing, then the other, but not together. I suppose the good part is you get some 'pure' one or the other. It's entertaining but not GREAT.

Don't Forget Enescu.......2006-09-18

Just wanted to mention that while many might be drawn to and think of this CD as mainly the work of the great Ravi Shankar, the Sonata for Violin & Piano by Enescu is a mesmerizing work, beautifully performed by the Menuhins. This piece is worth the price of the CD all by itself.

East Meets West.......2000-11-22

This is truly one of the most lovely, engaging, and encompassing joining of two classic traditions and true masters. Menuhin lets his western ego free and joins with Ravi Shankar to make, what I feel, a landmark musical statement.

Two stars shine.......2000-06-23

Both Shankar and Menuhin are masters who clearly shine on this studio concert. Rarely can one hear such complex melodies and improvisation played so perfectly. These two individuals create memories with their love of each other's classical music styles. Jazz, classical, Indian, and world music lovers will all be thrilled by this collection of masterpieces. There is also a companion live verstion of this album which is equally magnificent. I have used both as gifts repeatedly. Do not miss an oportunity to hear utter innovation.

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